Chapter 6:
Several weeks later Riley was returning from a morning of surfing when he heard Jo throwing up again. He sighed to himself as he stowed his surfboard. Ever since he had moved in with her and Ellie three weeks ago this had been like a morning ritual. He saw Ellie sitting at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal and said as he made himself a cup of coffee, "I was thinking since I don't have to work today and you have no school maybe we could work on your surfing."
She looked at him with bright eyes as she said, "Cool. Thanks Riley."
Riley nodded as he asked, "How long has she been in there this morning?"
Ellie replied as she finished her cereal, "She's been in there ever since I got up."
Riley thanked her as he put his mug in the sink and went to check on his fiance. When he walked into the room he saw Jo exit their ensuite bathroom. She gave him a warm loving smile as she asked, "How surfing?"
He replied as reached out and pulled her to him, "It was great. You know I'm taking Ellie to the beach today to work on her surfing; you wanna join us? We could make a day of it."
She gave him a peck on the lips as she said, "I would love to but I have to go in today."
He shook his head as he said, "Uh-uh I don't think so. You've been throwing your guts up for the past three weeks."
She graced him with another smile as she snuggled into his bare chest and said, "Don't worry I'll be fine. I just have an upset stomach that's all."
Riley just gave her a look. He knew there was more going on than an upset stomach but decided to let it go. He kissed her one last time then he left to let her get ready for work.
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As she began to get dressed she grinned. She had never expected to fall in love again but she had met Riley and had fallen in love and even had gotten engaged. She gazed at the platinum diamond engagement ring on her finger. She shrugged into her dark gray blazer and was about to leave the room when suddenly she felt like she was going to throw up again. She bolted for the bathroom and emptied what little remained in her stomach. When she was finished she brushed her teeth again and pulled out her phone and called Mac and told him that she wouldn't be in today. He told he understood and to get better. After she hung up she quickly changed into a black two piece bikini and flip flops and went out and joined Riley and Ellie. Riley looked up as she entered and had a wolfish grin on his face as he snarked, "Decided to play hookey after all huh?"
She nodded as she said, "Yea I decided I wanted tro come with you to the beach today. Then I was hoping we could grab a late lunch."
Riley nodded as they all climbed into Jo's red 2016 Chevrolet Suburban and drove to the beach.
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Danny and Lindsay were standing over a body when Mac and Sid pulled up. Mac asked, "What do we got?"
Danny replied, "Young male; looks like he was shot in the head. His ID states that he's Gary Marshall 10 yrs. Of age and he lives in Forest Hills, Queens."
Mac shuddered as he asked, "Sid was the bullet COD?"
Sid shook his head as he said, "At first glance it would appear the bullet is indeed the cause of death but he has a fractured skull."
Just then Mac's cell rang; he grabbed it and said, "Taylor."
Hawkes said, "Mac there a woman here; says her name is Thea Marshall. She says her 10 year old son Gary didn't come home this morning. He was staying with a friend."
Mac looked at the dead body as he said, "Tell her we found her son."
Hawkes was quiet for several minutes then he said, "I'll tell her. You know she'll want to see the body."
Mac replied, "I know. Tell her we will be back shortly."
Hawkes said he would and disconnected the call.
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Jo grinned and laughed as she watched Ellie attempt to surf. She laughed as Ellie fell off her board; only to be helped back up onto it by Riley. As she watched her fiance teach her daughter how to surf sshe realized for the second time that day how lucky she was. She was brought out of her musings as Ellie plopped down beside her on the sand. Jo commented, "You're getting better."
Ellie thanked her as she said, "Yea but I won't ever be as good as Riley."
Jo smiled slightly. She knew from Lindsay that Riley had picked up his love of surfing while he was in BUD/s out at Coronado Island. She patted Ellie's shoulder and said as they watched Riley ride a huge wave, "You'll get there."
Ellie nodded as they continued to watch Riley. 15 minutes later he walked up dragging his board and stuck in the sand and plopped down beside them. He asked, "Are you ladies hungry?"
Jo replied, "I'm starving."
Riley was about to say something when suddenly it clicked in his head, her throwing up every morning, her ravenous appetite and her frequent trips to the bathroom. She was pregnant. He chuckled as he grabbed his and Ellie's boards and lashed them to the top of the SUV as the girls climbed in. Once the boards were secure he climbed in and drove away.
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When they got to the crime lab Mac went directly to autopsy leaving Danny and Lindsay to deal with a clearly distraught Thea Marshall. Danny whispered in her ear, "I can talk to her if you want me to."
Lindsay smiled warmly up at her husband; she remembered many years ago when she had begged him to talk to the mother of a slain girl stating fathers I can handle but mothers...I don't do mothers. And he obviously remembered. She said, "No it's okay I'll do it."
He implored her, "Are you sure?"
She nodded as she said, "I'm sure...Danny thanks."
He nodded as he gave her a peck on the cheek and said, "Anytime Montana."
She chuckled at the use of his old nickname for her. She squared her shoulders and walked up to Thea Marshall.
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Mac asked, "Sid have you determined the COD yet?"
Sid replied, "The cause of death was a fractured skull. Look here."
Mac noticed an injection mark right inside the bend of the boy's right knee. He asked, "What was he injected with?"
Mac asked, "What do you think he was injected with?"
Sid replied, "Well he was sexually assaulted both anally and orally so I would guess it was ketamine."
Mac shook his head as he vowed, "I'll find who did this and they will pay."
He called as he left the morgue, "Send a blood sample to TOX."
Sid called back, "Already done."
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Riley and Jo had just walked into the crime lab when Riley froze. Jo saw the look on Riley's face as she asked, "What's wrong?"
Riley asked in a tight voice, "Why is Thea Marshall here?"
Jo replied, 'I have no idea. Who is she?"
He replied quietly, "Her husband Hank was my best friend. We met in Bud/S and were swim buddies from BUD/S all the way to DEVGRU. He was killed in 05 during an op in Sudan. We were operating in and around Khartoum. we were trying to stop AQ and Janjaweed fighters. We hafd just killed one of their top commanders when suddenly mortars started raining down on us. 4 of our 10 man were killed instantly. Me and Hank being the senior NCO's and seeing as our OIC was vaporized; took charge of the remaining 4 assaulters and tried to repel the massive counterattack. Well to make a long story the guys were wiped out."
Mac said as he walked up, "Yea but if I remember correctly both you and Hank won a CMH, purple hearts with three gold stars Navy Crosses with Combat v and Silver Stars with Combat V."
Jo said, "So that's what all the ribbons on your dress uniforms are for."
He grunted as he led them up to Thea. Thea Marshall looked up saw her husband's best friend and blood brother. She fell into his arms and began to sob. Riley looked over at Lindsay and asked, "What happened?"
Lindsay succinctly told him of Gary's murder and sexual assault. When she was done Riley said, "We'll find who did this."
She thanked him then she asked, "Are you seeing anybody' you know Hank would kill you if he knew you weren't married or at least dating somebody."
He chuckled as he stepped back and draped an arm across Jo's shoulders as he stated proudly, "Thea; I'd like you to meet my fiance Jo Danville."
Jo and Thea shook hands as Thea said, "I'm so glad he found someone. Hank would be too. When is the wedding?"
Jo replied, "We're not sure but I know I want it to be before I get to big."
Lindsay exclaimed, "Oh my god you're pregnant."